FIRST I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL CINDY'S FOLLOWERS AND FRIENDS FOR NOT KEEPING HER BLOG UPDATED. I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU A SHORT SYNAPSIS OF WHAT HAS OCURED IN CINDY'S LIFE OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS.

WELL FIRST WE HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP HER OUT OF THE HOSPITAL OTHER THAN QUICK TRIPS TO THE ER. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW CINDY DEVELOPED APLASTIC ANEMIA FROM HER CHEMO AND IS NO LONGER A CANDIDATE FOR CHEMO. SHE COMPLETED HER RADIATION IN AUGUST AND HAS STRUGGLED WITH OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING HER LEFT SIDE. CINDY WAS INVOLVED IN A DRUG STUDY THAT WAS PUT ON HOLD WHEN SHE DEVELOPED ANEMIA, AND OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS HER ANEMIA HAS SLIGHTLY IMPROVED AND WAS GIVEN THE OK TO CONTINUE WITH THE STUDY. CINDY HAS STRUGGLED WITH THIS DECISION BUT BECAUSE OF THE RISK FACTORS SHE HAS DECIDED NOT TO RECEIVE THE STUDY DRUG.

I RETURNED BACK TO UTAH JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND SPENT THE HOLIDAYS WITH MY FAMILY AND DECOMPRESS. THE WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING MY MOM CALLED AND STATED CINDYS CONDITION SEEMED TO BE WORSENING I ASKED IF SHE NEEDED ME TO COME BACK RELUCTANTLY, SHE SAID YES. I COULD TELL SHE WAS EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY SPENT. TWO HOURS LATER MY CAR WAS PACKED AND I WAS ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX.

WHEN I ARRIVED IN PHOENIX I COULD TELL THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. CINDY WAS HAVING A HARD TIME JUST KEEPING HER EYES OPEN AND WOULD SLEEP MOST OF THE DAY. SHE WAS NOT EATING OR DRINKING AND I COULD TELL SHE WAS DEHYDRATED. WHEN SHE WAS AWAKE HER SPEECH WAS SLURRED AND WHEN WE WOULD GET HER UP TO WALK SHE WOULD PASS OUT. THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES IT WOULD TAKE ALL THREE OF US TO GET HER DOWN THE HALL AND TO HER BED. I TOLD MY MOM I THOUGHT PART OF THE PROBLEM COULD BE HER BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION COMBINED WITH DEHYDRATION. SO WITH HER DOCTORS CONSENT WE CUT IT IN HALF AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE. WE HAD OUR CINDY BACK!

CHRISTMAS...... I REMAINED IN AZ AND WITH MOM AND TRACY'S HELP WE MANAGED TO GET CINDY TO ALL THE PARTIES SHE WAS INVITED TO. WE ATTENDED ADRIANA'S ANNUAL GIRL PARTY WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! THIS YEARS THEME WAS PAJAMAS AND WE ALL WORE ONE OF CINDY'S HATS. CINDY MANAGED TO MAKE IT TILL ABOUT ELEVEN WHEN SHE INFORMED US SHE NEEDED TO GO HOME, AND WE HAD HER OUT OF THE HOUSE AND IN THE CAR IN ABOUT 3 MIN FLAT! AFTER WE HAD HER IN THE CAR AND SHE WAS LYING DOWN SHE FELT BETTER AND WE LAUGHED AND SANG ALL THE WAY HOME.

WE SPENT CHRISTMAS AT CINDY'S THIS YEAR. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE ALL MY CHILDREN AND CRAIG WITH US AS WELL AS CINDY'S DAUGHTER BARBARA. IT WAS FILLED WITH LAUGHS AND GOOD FOOD THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL MOTHER "MARTHA THE II" LOL. WE ALSO CELEBRATED OUR GRANDSONS FIRST B-DAY.

I RETURNED TO UTAH WITH CRAIG AFTER CHRISTMAS. MOM AND DAD REMAIN IN AZ CARING FOR CINDY WITH HELP FROM TRACY. THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION BETWEEN MOM AND CINDY THAT POSSIBLY IN THE SPRING CINDY MAY RERURN TO MICHIGAN WITH MOM AND DAD.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Well where do I begin????????????? Last Wednesday I returned to Utah to tend to my own family's needs after spending almost three months in Az. At this time Cindy remainded hospitalized at St. Josephs in Phoenix. On that same day my dear Aunt JoAnn came to our rescue!!!! She has been a godsent to our family!!!!!!!! Just when everyone was at about at their limit she arrived and stepped in to give the much needed relief (I love you Aunt Jo). Cindy had spent almost the entire month of August in the hospital fighting for her life! Finally on Friday we got the news that Cindy's blood counts had improved enough for her to come home. On Friday evening Cindy was discharged and was sent home with 21 perscriptions!!!!! This was enough to make even a NURSE jump off a cliff! But Aunt Jo was able to get it all organized and she is now officially the PHARMACIST! And my dear mother has had enough courage to learn how to flush Cindy's PICC line!!! Over the last week Cindy has had many friends and family visit her from many parts of the country! Cindy has had alot of healing during this period and is very thankful for the the friends and family that have taken the time from their family's to visit her. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR LOVING MY SISTER

This morning Cindy had a seizure that was different than what she had been having. She was taken to Chandler Regional where she had several tests and scans. Unfortunatly they found a bleed in Cindy's brain and she was transfered back to Barro Neuro Institute in Phoenix. Cindy remains in the ICU in stable condition. This has brought so much sadness to our family just when we thought we were on the up hill climb we fall half way down the mountain!!! Well all I can say is I LOVE YOU CIN and hang in there and keep having the faith and strenght you have and keep believing!!!!!!!! To my Mom and Dad thanks for putting your life on hold to help her I can't even imagine the pain that you suffer day in and day out. As a perent this has to be the most painful situation life can bring! I know for myself this has been the most painful situation I have ever had to face. My mind is constantly thinking of Cindy even at rest but I know it is in the Lords hands and there has to be something more important that what is on this earth.

I will be returning to Phoenix on Sunday to give the much need relief to Mom, Dad, and Aunt Jo. I love you and thanks for giving me the support and the ok to return to my family. I would also like to thank my husband and children for their support during this difficult time in my life, I don't know what I would do with out them.........................................................

Like I said befor Cindy when you can't walk I will pick you up and carry you until you have the strength to walk on your own..................................

Saturday, September 4, 2010

AUNT JO IS SO RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MIRACLES DO HAPPEN................... AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE......................

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY WEEK!!!!!!!!! MY DEAR SWEET LEXI WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON TUESDAY SHE DEVELOPED AND INFECTION IN HER WOUND AND WAS READMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL ON WEDNESDAY. SHE IS BACK HOME WITH US NOW AND I AM DOING DRESSING CHANGES AND PACKING HER WOUND TWICE A DAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW LEXI SHE IS MY DAUGHTER AND TWO WEEKS AFTER CINDY HAD SURGERY LEXI WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. ON AUGUST 23RD LEXI HAD A BOWEL RESECTION TO REMOVE THE CANCEROUS AREA. ALL HER PATHOLOGY CAME BACK NEGATIVE. :)))))))))))))))

CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY CINDY

THE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a sleepy day for Cindy. Dad spent most of the day at Cindy's bedside giving her comfort. Cindy's physicians all met to discuss Cindy's case and decided to make another change with her medications. They looked at some research related to one of the seizure medications and found that there have been three similar cases in the world where this has happened. So the medication was stopped yesterday and we will wait to see what happens. The day ended well we found the Root Beer she has been asking for, and her childhood friend from Michigan called her last night!!!!

SATURDAY

CINDY'S PHYSICIAN CAME IN THIS MORNING AND INFORMED US THAT HER WHITE COUNT HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED, HER RED COUNT HAS SLIGHTLY IMPROVED, AND HER PLATELETS ARE HOLDING STEADY!!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEEEE FINALLY SOME PROGRESS HE SAID IF SHE KEEPS THIS UP IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT SHE WILL BE HOME BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK :)) THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND FOR LOVING MY SWEET SISTER.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Tuesday August 31st, First I have to say Happy Anniversary to my Sweet Heart! Craig I can't thank you enough for being there for Cindy she is always asking if you are ok and always says "I hope Craig knows how much I appreciate what he has done for me." I tell her "He does what he does because he loves you." Thank you my love for being there for all of us we love you and Happy Anniversary Sweet Heart!

Results of the Bone Marrow Biopsy.................

We received news today that Cindy's bone marrow remains stunned and does not appear to be producing platelets. The good news is her white count is higher than it has been since she was admitted and her physicians are going to try another medication starting this evening. We will know in a few days if it is successful.

I sent Mom and Dad home so they could have some time together in Cindy's small apartment with Brady, Lexi, Jaxton, and their dog Cleo! Lexi was discharged from the hospital yesterday and is doing well she even made a trip to see Cindy today.

Cindy is resting peacefully this evening and appears to be comfortable with no complaints................

Monday, August 30, 2010

Cindy remains hospitalized at St. Josephs and is fighting for her life. Last Friday Cindy had a Bone Marrow biopsy with hopes that the Physicians could find an answer as to why she is not producing platelets or white blood cells with no answers as of today. During her stay she has managed to keep her humor even when she is in pain and manages to crack a small smile when she has no energy. Cindy is like no other person I have ever met in my life and I am so proud to say she is my sister. With all the good she has done in her life it is very hard for me to understand why she has to go through this hell......

I LOVE YOU Cindy and I will continue to stand by your side and protect you!

9 days at Saint Joe's, Cindy went down late this morning for a bone marrow test. Cindy said WoooHooo didn't feel a thing. She is back in her room eating some Mocha ice cream and talking to Laurie and her Mom.

Alan came by after his radiation with Cliff yesterday too say hello and share his gentle spirit, Dave stopped by and read scriptures with her and offered a prayer, thank you, Laurie Nunez stopped by to say hello and catch up, great to see you! Cynthia also stopped by, even when its difficult to make the trip you give of your time and love :)

She really enjoyed everyone taking the time to stop by. Mom is staying each night with Cindy, she says she lives here :)

Donations

About Me

On June 14, 2010, Cindy underwent a Craniotomy at the Barros Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, to have a grade four Glioblastoma removed from the right temporal lobe of her brain. The team of surgeons at BNI were successful in removing most of the tumor leaving behind a small portion that remains in the part of the brain that controls her speech. Cindy is currently receiving chemotherapy seven days a week and radiation Monday through Friday. Cindy generously donated her tumor to research in hopes that someday a cure can be found. Cindy has also volunteered to be involved in a double-blind drug study at BNI where she receives a bi-weekly infusion to aid in the process in her healing.